Col. Allen Agnes is the Deputy Commander, Eighth Air Force, Barksdale Air Force Base, Louisiana. As a Numbered Air Force of Air Force Global Strike Command, Eighth Air Force provides long-range strike and strategic deterrence to combatant commanders worldwide. The “Mighty Eighth" is responsible for the service’s bomber force as well as its airborne nuclear command and control assets, encompassing approximately 24,000 Airmen across six installations, and operating more than 150 E-4, B-1, B-2, B-52, and T-38 aircraft.
Colonel Agnes received his commission from Officer Training School in 2002 and earned his navigator wings in 2003, subsequently qualifying as a B-52H weapon systems officer in 2004. Throughout his career, he has held a variety of operational flying, joint staff, and command assignments, serving as an evaluator radar navigator, Director of Operations for an Expeditionary Bomb Squadron, and Chief of the Commander’s Action Group for Eighth Air Force. A graduate of the School of Advanced Nuclear Deterrence Studies, his strategic expertise includes serving as a joint aircraft strike planner at U.S. Strategic Command, followed by command of the 72d Expeditionary Air Support Operations Squadron in Baghdad, Iraq. Colonel Agnes has also served in multiple leadership roles at Minot Air Force Base, N.D., including Deputy Commander of both the 5th Operations Group and the 5th Mission Support Group, as well as Commander of the 5th Logistics Readiness Squadron. Prior to his current assignment, he was the Deputy Commander of The Air Force Inspection Agency.
Colonel Agnes has air and ground combat experience in Operations ENDURING FREEDOM, IRAQI FREEDOM, INHERENT RESOLVE and he has deployed multiple times in support of Continuous Bomber Presence at Andersen AFB.
EDUCATION
1999 Bachelor of Science Degree in Computer Management Info Sys, University of Southern Illinois, Edwardsville.
2008 Squadron Officer School, Maxwell Air Force Base, Ala.
2011 Master’s Degree in Business Administration, University of Phoenix, Phoenix, Ariz.
2012 Air Command and Staff College, Maxwell AFB, Ala., by correspondence
2016 Air Force Nuclear Fundamentals (NUC200), Air Force Nuclear Concepts Course (NUC300), Kirtland AFB, N.M.
2016 Nuclear Weapons Effects, Policy, and Proliferation Certificate, Air Force Institute of Technology, Ohio.
2016 Master’s Degree in Operations Management, Air Force Institute of Technology, Wright-Patterson AFB, Ohio.
2016 School of Advanced Nuclear Deterrence Studies, Kirtland AFB, N.M.
2017 Joint Professional Military Education Phase II, Joint Forces Staff College, Norfolk Naval Station, Va.
2018 Air War College, Maxwell AFB, AL., by correspondence.
2024 Department of the Air Force Fellow at Center of Strategic International Studies, Project on Nuclear Issues, Washington, D.C.
2024 Air Force Senior Leader Nuclear Management (NUC400), Kirtland AFB, N.M.
ASSIGNMENTS or CAREER CHRONOLOGY
1. May 2002 – August 2002, Officer Trainee, Officer Training School, Maxwell Air Force Base, Ala.
2. August 2002 – August 2003, Student Navigator, Joint Specialized Undergraduate Navigator Training, Randolph AFB, Texas
3. August 2003 – May 2004, B-52H FTU Student, 11th Bomb Squadron, Barksdale AFB, La.
4. May 2004 – May 2007, Radar Navigator, Life Support Flight Commander, 23rd Bomb Squadron, Minot AFB, N.D.
5. May 2007 – March 2010, Air Liaison Officer, Assistant Director of Operations, 2nd Air Support Operations Squadron, Vilseck, Germany
6. March 2010 – December 2014, Evaluator Radar Navigator, Assistant Director of Operations, 96th Bomb Squadron, Barksdale AFB, La.
7. December 2014 – June 2015, Chief Master Air Attack Plan Team, 608th Air Operations Center, Barksdale AFB, La.
8. June 2015 – August 2015, Chief of Commander’s Action Group, 8AF, Barksdale AFB, La.
9. August 2015 –September 2016, Student, School of Advanced Nuclear Deterrence Studies, Kirtland AFB, N.M.
10. September 2016 – June 2019, Aircraft Strike Planner, USSTRATCOM J5N5, Offutt AFB, Neb.
11. June 2018 – April 2019, Commander, 72d Expeditionary Air Support Operations Squadron, Union III, Baghdad, Iraq
12. June 2019 – August 2021, Deputy Group Commander, 5th Operations Group, 5th Bomb Wing, Minot AFB, N.D.
13. August 2021 – February 2023, Deputy Group Commander, 5th Mission Support Group, 5th Bomb Wing, Minot AFB, N.D.
14. February 2023 – June 2023, Commander, 5th Logistics Readiness Squadron, Minot AFB, N.D.
15. July 2023 – June 2024, Department of the Air Force Military Fellow at Center of Strategic International Studies, Washington, D.C.
16. July 2024 – June 2026, Deputy Commander, Air Force Inspection Agency, Kirtland AFB, N.M.
17. June 2026 – Present, Deputy Commander, Eight Air Force, Barksdale AFB, La.
SUMMARY OF JOINT ASSIGNMENTS
1. September 2016 – June 2019, Aircraft Strike Planner, USSTRATCOM J5N5, Offutt AFB, Neb., as a Lieutenant Colonel
FLIGHT INFORMATION [FLIGHT RATED ONLY]
Rating: Master Navigator
Flight Hours: More than 2,900 including 328 combat hours
Aircraft Flown: T-43, T-1, B-52H
MAJOR AWARDS AND DECORATIONS
Legion of Merit
Bronze Star
Defense Meritorious Service Medal
Meritorious Service Medal with three oak leaf clusters
Air Medal
Air and Space Commendation Medal with three oak leaf clusters
Nuclear Deterrence Operations Service Medal one N device and four oak leaf clusters
EFFECTIVE DATES OF PROMOTION
Second Lieutenant Aug 16, 2002
First Lieutenant Aug 16, 2004
Captain Aug 16, 2006
Major Oct 1, 2012
Lieutenant Colonel Jun 1, 2017
Colonel Oct 1, 2023
(Current as of June 2026)